Needless to say, black was the predominant color among the estimated 2,000 guests packed into London’s Westminster Abbey for the ceremony. And while the attendees’ choices of outfit were appropriately understated, hats, brooches and nods to national dress added character to the otherwise somber attire.
Catherine, Princess of Wales, Camilla, Queen Consort and Prince George of Wales are seen on The Mall of the Queen’s funeral. Credit: Joe Maher/Getty
Formal headpieces came in all shapes and sizes, from wide-brimmed hats to diminutive fascinators with dark veils. More elaborate designs were seen on Carole Middleton, the mother of Catherine, Princess of Wales, and Britain’s Leader of the House of Commons Penny Mordaunt, whose hat featured an arrangement of dark feathers. French President Emmanuel Macron’s wife, Brigitte, opted for pillbox-style hat with small black veil detailing at the front; Jill Biden’s was more minimal, with a thin headband-like design culminating in a delicate bow.
Princess Charlotte of Wales arrives at Westminster Abbey ahead of the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on September 19, 2022 in London, England. Credit: Chris Jackson/Getty
Indeed, no royal was too young to abide by tradition, with 7-year-old Princess Charlotte — now third in line to the throne — also pictured in a dark hat.
For others from the Queen’s immediate family, outfits, sashes and medals were dictated by military rank. The new king, Charles III, wore a Royal Navy uniform and carried a sword. His son William, the newly appointed Prince of Wales, wore a Royal Air Force uniform, while Prince Edward and Princess Anne also assumed the uniforms of their respective ranks.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex arrive at Westminster Abbey ahead of the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on September 19, 2022 in London, England. Credit: Christopher Furlong/Getty
Making statements is a delicate task, but brooches, pins and sashes carried subtle significance. Catherine, Princess of Wales wore a pair of drop earrings made from pearls given to the Queen and Prince Philip for their marriage in 1947, as well as the Four Row Japanese Pearl Choker from the Queen’s personal jewelry collection (an item previously worn by the late Princess Diana). Camilla, the Queen Consort, went further back in history with the heart-shaped Hessian Diamond Jubilee Brooch, a sapphire-encrusted jewel once owned by Queen Victoria, the late Queen Elizabeth’s great-great grandmother.
Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern and Clarke Gayford arrive at Westminster Abbey for The State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on September 19, 2022 in London, England. Credit: Chris Jackson/Getty
Other overseas dignitaries turned to their country’s national dress, too. The Crown Prince of Bahrain arrived in a thobe and ghitraa, the ankle-length robe and headdress widely worn by men in the Gulf nation. Nigeria’s vice president Yemi Osinbajo also arrived in traditional dress, while Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif wore a black sherwani.
